Disable Safari Password Manager: Step-by-Step Guide

The password storage mechanism in the Safari browser is powered by iCloud Keychain, Apple’s password management system.

So, when we mention the Safari password manager, what we mean is the iCloud Keychain.

The iCloud Keychain is a reasonably secure password management system for personal usage. It uses AES 256-bit encryption to secure your credentials and allows you to set a master password as the decryption key.

However, it works only within an Apple ecosystem.

This makes it a very limiting tool, which can steer some people towards other options that require that you disable it. So, if you need to disable the Safari password manager, here are the steps.

How to disable Safari password manager on Mac?

Launch the browser
Click on the Safari menu button at the top bar
Go to Settings
Click the Autofill icon
Uncheck all the boxes

You will find the following settings under Autofill, with boxes adjacent to each of them.

Using information from my contacts
Usernames and passwords
Credit cards
Other forms

How can iOS users disable the Safari password managers?

Launch the Safari app
Tap on Settings
Go to Passwords (Passwords and Accounts)
Tap Password options
Toggle off AutoFill Passwords

Note: The passwords previously saved are not deleted when you disable the password manager using the above steps. Your credentials are still stored in the cloud and synced with your iCloud account.

Steps to delete saved passwords in Safari Keychain

Go to Settings from the Safari menu
Click on Passwords
Right-click the password you want to delete
Select delete

The interface will ask for confirmation. Confirm the action to delete the password.

To delete all passwords saved in the password manager in one go, select all the passwords using the Cmd+A shortcut and then click Delete.

Make sure you export the passwords before deleting them. Use these steps.

Go to System Preferences
Select Passwords (use your iCloud password to authenticate your identity)
Click on the three dots to access the menu
Click on Export All Passwords

Confirm the action by clicking Export Passwords

How does iCloud Keychain qualify as a password manager?

Unlike Chrome, the Safari password manager powered by iCloud Keychain actually takes security quite seriously. It has some crucial features missing in most browser-based password management solutions.

The Advantages of iCloud Keychain

A single master password for all devices

Apple’s iCloud Keychain uses advanced standard encryption with a 256-bit key length to encrypt its users’ passwords and other credentials. The master password set by the user works as the decryption key for the passwords.

Unlike the Firefox password manager, which requires separate primary passwords for different devices accessing the same account, iCloud Keychain requires one master password that is tied to a user’s iCloud account.

The loss of the master password results in the loss of all data within the password manager.

It allows 2-Factor Authentication (2FA)

You can enable 2FA by clicking on Security in the iCloud System Preferences menu. You can enable 2FA, set up a rescue email, and security questions on this page.

Enabling 2FA means a bad actor with access to

Your iCloud account
Your master password
One of your devices
All of the above

cannot steal your passwords from iCloud Keychain.

The disadvantages of iCloud Keychain

The Safari password manager does not have a secure password-sharing feature. You can air-drop passwords to another Mac or iOS device, but that does not really pan out as a good solution when you have team members who do not use Apple.

It does not notify users when sites they have accounts in get compromised

Safari browser password management tool does not let you know if one of the sites you access through the password manager gets hacked. It is a risky drawback. This is a feature offered by the Firefox password manager and a host of third-party password managers.

It does not work outside of the Apple ecosystem

The vendor lock-in is one of the most limiting features in the iCloud Keychain. The password manager by Apple would be almost usable in the workplace had it not been for this limitation.

The Safari password manager works only inside an Apple environment. You cannot share your credentials securely using the password manager with a colleague who does not use an Apple device. In fact, you yourself cannot access the saved passwords from a Windows computer or an Android mobile phone.

The best iCloud Keychain Alternative

A dedicated password management + access management solution like Uniqkey comes with every advantage of the iCloud keychain without any of its disadvantages.

It offers your team an encrypted password vault protected with a master key and accessible across devices, OSs, and browsers. It comes with features like secure password-sharing, automated employee logins, and role-based access, among other things.

But Uniqkey doesn’t just stop there. It also offers a number of features that make it the superior choice for password management:

Cross-platform compatibility: Uniqkey works on all major platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. This means that your team can access their passwords from any device, regardless of their operating system.
Two-factor authentication: Uniqkey supports multi-factor authentication (MFA), which adds an extra layer of security to your passwords. With MFA, users need to enter a code from their phone in addition to their password to log in.
Auditing and reporting: Uniqkey provides detailed auditing and reporting features that allow you to track password usage and identify security risks. This information can be used to improve your password security practices.

If you’re looking for a secure and easy-to-use password management solution, Uniqkey is the clear choice. Try it for free today and see for yourself why it’s the best password manager on the market.